GP appointments

About GPs

GPs deal with a whole range of health problems. They also provide health education, offer advice on smoking and diet, run clinics, give vaccinations and carry out simple surgical operations.

Many GPs are open longer hours now – including early morning, late evenings and Saturdays. You can book an appointment up to two weeks in advance, and usually get seen within 48 hours.

To find a GP practice to enrol with, visit the NHS Choices website You have the legal right to choose a GP practice that best suits your needs.

Urgent GP appointments

To help more people who need to be seen urgently by a local doctor same day appointments are available every weekday evening between 6.30pm and 10pm, and 8am and 8pm on weekends. The appointments are available to everyone registered with a GP in Barking and Dagenham.

You can call the service directly on 020 3770 1888 between 2pm and 9pm on weekdays and between 9am and 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays all year round for an appointment. NHS 111 can also book you into a GP hub if you need an urgent appointment.

The two GP hubs where the urgent appointments are available are at Broad Street Medical Centre in Dagenham, and Barking Community Hospital in Upney.

To make it even easier to be seen, it is now possible to book appointments for Friday evening, Saturdays and Sundays from Thursdays each week, rather than on the day. Appointments must be booked in advance, you can’t ‘walk in’ or turn up without an appointment on the day.

The GPs can see and update your records in the appointment so it is no different to seeing a doctor at your usual practice.

Local resident Dawn Freeman has used the service and would recommend it to others:

“When I called they were able to book an urgent appointment for just three hours later. We were seen on time, so weren’t hanging around, which I was impressed with. If the service didn’t exist I would have gone to A&E which would have meant waiting a long time to be seen.

“I think it’s a really good service, and I’d recommend people think about using it. I didn’t mind that I wasn’t seeing my own GP, I was glad we could see a doctor when we needed to. It felt you were getting a more personalised service than going to A&E.”

What to do if your GP practice is closed

If your GP surgery is closed and you need medical attention that cannot wait, please call NHS 111. The service provides:

Assessments over the phone – along with advice or treatment recommendations from a range of health professionals if required